“No longer a world-class player,” Dominic Thiem reveals whether he had more ‘talent’ than Nick Kyrgios
After years of struggles due to his wrist injury, Dominic Thiem announced his retirement and called time on his career after the Vienna Open.
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Nick Kyrgios, Dominic Thiem (Images via BBC, X)
While discussing his career, Dominic Thiem stated that Nick Kyrgios was more talented than him. Thiem in May this year announced his retirement and hung up his racket after his first-round defeat at the Vienna Open.
In his prime, the 17-time title winner was one of the most difficult players on the court. He and Andy Murray are the only players to defeat Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic at least five times.
The wrist injury he suffered after the 2020 US Open however, ruined his career as he failed to recover completely, and the injury later forced him to retire at the age of just 31. While talking about his playing style and whether he still suffers from wrist pain, the Austrian mentioned Kyrgios.
I’m not a player who can rely on his serve, nor do I have the talent of a Nick Kyrgios. I need to be at 100% and my shots to be 100% too. If that’s not the case, I’m no longer a world-class player. Ultimately, that’s also why I ended up getting injured.
Dominic Thiem told Tennis Majors
He made it to multiple Grand Slam finals and won his first at the 2020 US Open with a five-set win over Alexander Zverev. 2022 Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios on the other hand is still on the sidelines due to his multiple injuries and has played just one singles match since 2022.
Dominic Thiem admits he didn’t bloom quickly like Carlos Alcaraz
When Dominic Thiem was asked if he, like many former players, would become a coach or pundit post-retirement, he said he hasn’t yet decided anything about it. He admitted that he is ‘a little tired of traveling’ and doesn’t want to get back on the circuit.
But he thinks youngsters will look up to him as he wasn’t a player like Carlos Alcaraz and had to work hard to reach the top. Alcaraz, at 21, has already won four Grand Slam trophies.
I’m not someone who blossomed very quickly, like Carlos Alcaraz or others. For me, it took time. I had to suffer a lot to get there, and my case could serve as an example.
Dominic Thiem told Tennis Majors
In the last match of his career, Thiem lost to Italy’s Luciano Darderi, while in his last Grand Slam event at the US Open, Thiem bowed out of the first round after losing to Ben Shelton.
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